Senior James Dunbar (center) poses for a picture in the Panther costume with two Paul VI seniors at the Catholic Herald graduation photo shoot. ASHLEIGH KASSOK | CATHOLIC HERALD

Paul VI Catholic High School senior James Dunbar is on the hockey team. COURTESY

When it came time to write his college entrance essay, Paul VI
Catholic High School senior James Dunbar was like most college-bound students —
at a loss for words. That was until one night after he returned home from
playing the Paul VI Panther mascot during a particularly exciting high school
football game.

He decided to write about his experience as the mascot and what
it meant to him.

Dunbar didn’t enter high school with ambitions of being the
Panther. It’s one of many opportunities that crossed the path of the initially
shy freshman from St. Leo the Great School in Fairfax. He said it wasn’t until
junior year that he began to break out of his shell.

“I had been really shy, a lowly fish in the big pond of high
school,” he said. But he admitted that he thrives in a community.

He found that community after getting more involved in the
student groups that Paul VI offered. As an athlete, he appreciated how easy it
was to get involved in hockey, track and cross country.

“There is an unsaid acceptance and welcome, regardless of
talent,” said Dunbar. “They are my best friends and I would not have met them
in class. I needed sports to make that connection.”

In a further attempt to
get out of his comfort zone, Dunbar joined the student ambassador program his
junior year and student government his senior year. He was also a member of the
National Honor Society and participated in the school’s annual phone-a-thon
fundraiser. While it was intimidating initially, it turned out to be a great
experience for him.

“It was fun to talk to PVI alumni such as the ones that played some
sports,” he said. “I got to hear about their time at PVI and why they really
enjoyed it.”

His participation in student government continued to build his
confidence.

“I had never been in a position where I had to get out of my
comfort zone, (take the) initiative and deal with people. It was something I
never got out of a classroom experience.”

It was during a student government event that he first donned the
Panther costume. When Dunbar volunteered, he initially felt like he had drawn
the short straw. To his surprise, he discovered that he could be much more
outgoing in the costume and he received a lot of encouragement from his fellow
students.

It comes as no surprise that the Panther plans to become a
Wildcat at Villanova University this fall. After thriving academically at Paul
VI, he found similar Catholic values and community while touring the Villanova
campus, which is located near Philadelphia. He is grateful to the teachers at
Paul VI. He said their passion has inspired him.

“I can’t name one teacher at PVI who is just there for the
money,” said Dunbar. “They do it because they love what they do. It has
encouraged me to ask the harder questions.”